Sterically hindered photographic coupler solvents and photographic elements employing same

Claim 1

A photographic element comprising a support having thereon at least one silver halide emulsion layer having associated therewith a dye-forming coupler and a coupler solvent therefor having the formula: ##STR76## wherein each X may independently represent a halogen atom, an alkyl group of from 1 to about 20 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group of from 1 to about 20 carbon atoms, or a carboxylic ester; m represents an integer of 0 to 5; n represents an integer of 1 to 4; and R 1 , R 2 , and R 3 each independently represents a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group; a substituted or unsubstituted alicyclic group, saturated or partially saturated; a substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl group; a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group; a substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclyl group; or may be combined together to form one or more nonaromatic rings; with the proviso that the alpha hydrogens of R 1 , R 2 , and R 3 total no more than seven; and with the further proviso that R 1 can additionally be hydrogen when (a) R 2 and R 3 join together to form a ring substituted by no more than one alpha hydrogen or (b) R 2 and R 3 do not join to form a ring and if at least one of R 2 or R 3 contains an alpha carbon having two different non-hydrogen substituents.